Author's Note: I just wanted to thank everyone for their wonderful and sweet comments on this story. I love hearing from you and I'm so glad you've enjoyed the story. Your kind words are such a blessing. :)

One week later…

Elizabeth placed a final book in her basket when a knock sounded on her door. Her stomach flipped as it had every morning the past week, and she moved to answer it. Lucas stood on the other side, a smile across his face.

"Good morning, Elizabeth." His eyes sparkled as he looked at her, and she felt herself blushing under his gaze.

"Good morning." She smiled back, feeling the urge to giggle for no reason. Suddenly she saw the two leashes in his hand. Looking down she laughed finding Sawyer and Annie running circles around each other.

"And good morning to you too." She squatted down, and reached a hand to both of them. The pups greeted her excitedly, shoving their heads under her hands, and violently licking her fingers. She giggled with joy, eliciting a chuckle from Lucas.

He crouched down with her, petting Annie and then Sawyer.

"Jeanie's at work and Gustave has threatened to quit unless I keep them out from under his feet."

She caught the amusement in his voice and couldn't help the laugh that escaped her.

"Well, I certainly don't mind the company." Looking up she found him watching her, his eyes darker than normal. He held her gaze, and she found herself caught in a trance, unable to look away. Something that had been happening regularly.

After a moment he cleared his throat nervously, before turning a smile on her. "Are you ready?"

She shook herself, unable to stop the grin that surfaced. "Yes, I just need to grab my things." Quickly she stood, and went for her basket. She took a breath, trying to stop the butterflies twirling in her chest. Although she knew it wouldn't do her any good.

Every time she simply heard his voice her heart went to fluttering. Honestly, she couldn't help feeling she was behaving like a schoolgirl. But she didn't care.

Placing a final kiss to Little Jack's head she walked back to Lucas who stood at the door, her coat in his hands. She turned and allowed him to help her into it, something else he'd done every day the past week. Always the gentleman.

She turned to him, flashing him a smile. "Thank you."

He grinned back, his dimples deepening. "Of course." Taking a step back he motioned for her to exit ahead of him. "Shall we?"

She smirked, and stepped out the door, Lucas following behind.

Slowly they started down the road, the early morning sun warming her face. She breathed deeply, feeling the beauty of the newfound peace in her heart. As well as the overwhelming excitement she felt walking next to the man she loved.

She glanced over at him, and found him staring back. She bit her lip against a nervous yet happy giggle. "You know you don't have to walk me to school every morning." She quirked, just wanting to hear his response. "I know the oil company has you pretty busy."

Lucas smirked, his eyes dropping to his feet. "I know." His eyes then found hers again, a playfulness in his gaze. "But maybe I want to."

Her eyes dropped to her feet, a grin pulling at her lips. "Well in that case."

They continued on slowly down the road. Suddenly she felt his hand brush hers, before he slowly slipped his fingers through hers. Her heart sped, his touch sending a tingling sensation through her arm. He'd never held her hand before.

The past week they had agreed to take things slowly as they navigated this new chapter in their relationship. They both knew how the other felt, and she honestly was pretty sure how they'd end up. But for now, they were just taking their time, enjoying each other.

She dared a glance at him from under her lashes. He met her gaze, smiling shyly, before his eyes dropped to his feet. Inside her chest swelled, as she spotted his ears turning pink.

They continued walking, hand-in-hand down the road. No words seemed necessary. Just being together was enough.

Eventually they reached town, and started toward the school. People stopped and stared as they walked by, and Elizabeth looked to her and Lucas' joined hands. They had been the talk of town ever since their rather public declaration of love. She was sure everyone was whispering about them as they passed, but she didn't really care.

They then walked by the Gowen Petroleum office, and a question presented itself.

"Did Henry ever agree to your offer?" She asked curiously. Henry had taken his time in getting back to Lucas, and she wondered if they had talked yet.

"He…" Lucas started when suddenly Annie and Sawyer started running circles around him, tangling their ropes around his legs. Elizabeth couldn't help but laugh at their antics. She looked to Lucas who seemed equally amused.

"He told me yesterday," He started with a chuckle, attempting to free his legs. "That he would only agree to be my consultant for now."

"I see." She worked to hold the pups still, and untangle their leashes. "And are you happy with that?"

"It's a start." He answered, finally managing to step out of the ropes. "I am hoping that he'll eventually come around and agree to be my partner again." Reaching down he lifted Sawyer into his arms, giving his belly a scratch. "I never meant for things to end up the way they did." He sighed sadly.

She looked to him softly, placing a hand on his arm. "I know. But this is a good start. For both of you."

Lucas looked to her with a smile, simply nodding. Suddenly Sawyer squirmed and gave a kick, trying to leap out of his arms. Lucas winced, before gently lowering him to the ground. Elizabeth's chest tightened.

"Your rib?"

He exhaled, before shrugging her worry away. "I'm fine."

She raised a brow at him. "Are you sure?" Over the past week he seemed to be healing slowly but surely. Although she worried that her dramatic leap into his arms last week had caused him further injury. But if it had, she knew he'd never tell her.

"Yes." He answered, before placing a hand to her cheek. His lips turned in a loving smile. "But your concern is very sweet."

She felt herself blush at his compliment, his touch sending a spark through her skin. Unable to find something intelligent to say she simply scrunched her nose at him before slipping her hand back into his. They then continued on their way.

It didn't take long before the school house came into view. A few children had arrived already and were playing happily in the field next to the building. A slight wave of sadness washed over her as it always did after arriving, knowing he was going to leave.

Goodness, she really was a lovesick schoolgirl.

He walked her up the stairs, allowing Robert and Allie to play with Annie and Sawyer for a moment. Elizabeth turned toward him, a sad smile on her face.

"This is me."

Lucas sighed with a smile, a slightly mischievous look in his eyes. "Then I suppose you'll want your hand back?"

She laughed lightly, looking down to their still intertwined fingers. "I'm afraid so."

Again, he sighed, with a shake of his head, his lips pressing tight. "I was afraid of that."

She bit back against a laugh, seeing the playfulness in his eyes. Gently he raised her hand and placed a soft kiss to her knuckles, before finally releasing it back to her. Instantly she missed the warmth of his fingers over hers.

She then remembered the stack of papers at the bottom of her basket. "I actually have something for you."

Lifting a few books, she gently slid them out, her heart speeding at the sight of them.

Lucas' eyes widened, as he reached to take them from her offering hand. "Is this…"

She nodded eagerly. "My latest chapters." The past week the words had seemed to simply spill out of her, faster than her fingers could type. It seemed finally figuring out the confusion in her heart, had freed the words from her brain.

Lucas looked happily at the pages, before turning a smile on her. "Thank you. I look forward to reading them."

Her heart flipped, as she remembered the words she'd written. "I think you may be especially interested in the last one." She couldn't help the teasing in her voice, giving the pages a light tap.

His brows rose, as he cocked his head at her. "Is that so?"

She simply smirked, and turned to enter the church. "Bye."

He grinned back, giving a little wave as he watched her go. "Bye."

Inside she closed the door, unable to stop the smile spreading across her face. She didn't think her heart could take anymore happiness. And then she turned around….

Her mouth dropped open with a gasp, her hand coming to rest on her face. Before her a beautiful arrangement of white and pink wild flowers sat on her desk in a sparkling glass vase. Behind it the blackboard had been decorated with roughly drawn flowers, and hearts with a single sentence in the middle.

Stepping closer she read the curly letters.

"For the most amazing woman I know."

"It turns out I have something for you too." She turned back with a start to find Lucas walking slowly toward her.

"Lucas…" She breathed, her chest swelling with warmth. Stepping toward the bouquet, her fingers tentatively brushed over the delicate petals, before she found his gaze. "They're beautiful."

He came to stand before her, his eyes darkening. "Not nearly as beautiful as you." He whispered, and she felt her face flood with heat.

Suddenly his eyes fell, his face twisting slightly. "Elizabeth…" He started nervously. Finally, his eyes found hers again, a sparkle in his dark depths. "I was wondering if you'd do me the honor of joining me for dinner tonight?"

Her heart sped, as she realized what he meant. Slowly she took a step toward him, her lips quirking. "Are you asking me on a date?"

Lucas' eyes danced, as he laughed lightly. "Yes. I am."

She laughed with him, her heart fluttering. "Then yes. I would love to go on a date with you."

He nodded, flashing her a heart-melting smile. "Good. I'll come by your house tonight at seven then?"

She beamed back. "Seven sounds perfect." Their gazes locked for a moment before Lucas eventually turned to go. She watched as he strode to the door, when he suddenly turned back to look at her.

"And Elizabeth…" He smiled, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "This evening requires formal attire."

Jeanie bustled back into the café's kitchen, a stack of plates in both hands. "Two orders of fried eggs and biscuits."

Bill nodded, grabbing two eggs. "Coming up."

Jeanie set the dishes down into the sink, feeling rather pleased with her "dish maneuvering" skills. She then turned and checked on the pan of biscuits in the oven. They just needed a few more minutes.

Closing the oven door, she then turned to the table behind her and began slicing some bread for toast. As she sliced the fresh loaf, she'd just baked that morning, her mind couldn't seem to stay focused on the task at hand.

It had been over a week since all the chaos had ensued with Mr. Spurlock and…Harvey. Inside her stomach twisted, her face wincing at the memory. She thanked God every day that she'd finally been saved from Harvey's blackmail, yet her heart still weighed more than ever.

How could she have let things go on for so long? And how could she have deceived these wonderful people?

And Lucas…Oh, how her heart broke over the sight of him in so much pain! And yet he'd never once blamed her. All he could say was how happy he was that she was safe, and things were finally straightened out. Although she knew the real reason he was so happy.

"Jeanie, the biscuits!" Bill's voice snapped her back to reality. She gasped as she spied the smoke coming out of the oven. Quickly Bill opened the oven door, and pulled the pan out, revealing the blackened lumps. Quickly he crossed to the sink and chucked the biscuits into it.

Jeanie felt her entire face burn with heat. "I'm so sorry sir…I mean…Bill." Her heart began pounding, her hand going to her forehead. What must he think of her? She could be such a scatterbrain at times.

Suddenly Bill turned to her, his brows furrowed. "Why do you do that?"

"I know." She winced, wrapping her arms around herself. "I tend to daydream far too often. My mother says I couldn't stay focused on one thing for five minutes."

"Not that." Bill interjected. She couldn't help but fidget under his intense gaze. It was like he was trying to see inside her brain. "Why do you call me, sir?"

Nervously she bit her lip, shrugging her shoulders. "Habit, I guess." Suddenly a rush of memories came spilling before her. Harvey's cold, hard glare. The insults. The blackmail. Tears stung the back of her eyes, and she worked to keep them at bay.

"Harvey always made me call him that." She finally managed. "I guess it made him feel empowered or something."

She couldn't quite bring herself to meet Bill's gaze at first. When she finally did, she was taken back at the gentleness she found there. "Well, I'm not Harvey." His words were firm, but not harsh. More like he was helping her realize a fact.

She tried to give him a smile, but her lips felt too stiff to move. "I know." Quickly she turned back to the table to spoon a new batch of biscuits into another pan.

Bill's footsteps sounded behind her as he came to stand next to her. He took another knife and began chopping a pepper. "How have you been handling things?"

Her chest swirled inside her, as she fought how to answer his question. Lucas had been asking her the same thing all week. And every time she hadn't known what to answer. Honestly, she wanted to forget that anything had ever happened.

After the event with Harvey, word spread like wildfire about her. Now everyone knew the truth. The sad, ugly truth.

She was Lucas' sister. She had been married to a murdering criminal. And she had put Elizabeth and the entire town in danger. Now everyone stared at her like she had the plague, and the people who had treated her with kindness, barely greeted her in passing.

But she deserved it. She'd deceived the entire town, trying to be someone she wasn't. At least Bill had let her keep her job.

Glancing over she found Bill silently waiting for an answer. She smirked, trying to sound light. "Well, other than putting the entire town in danger, and now receiving an evil eyed stare from everyone I pass by…. I'd say I'm good."

As good as she could be under the circumstances.

Bill finished chopping and wiped the pepper bits from the knife. He glanced at her, his brow raised. "You know you can't blame yourself for Harvey's actions, right?"

Her brows rose in disbelief. Did he not blame her? Of all people she would have thought a judge would. And yet she couldn't help but roll her eyes. If she'd had the courage to turn him in years ago, they wouldn't be having this conversation.

She simply sighed, grabbed the pan, and shoved it into the oven. "Everyone else seems to." Subconsciously her fingers went to the string about her neck. It seemed to perfectly symbolize the internal ropes that had been holding her back for so long.

"I think I just have to face the fact that no one is going to see me for anything else than Scottie McElroy's wife." Her heart sunk deeper as she said the words out loud. But it was the truth.

She found Bill simply watching her, his expression unreadable. Nervously she shrugged flashing him a sad smile. "But I'm used to it by now."

Bill came to stand next to her, flipping some eggs over in the pan on the stove.

He finished quickly, before turning toward her. She was surprised as he then took her hands in his, his eyes softening. "Well, I can't speak for the town, but I can say that's not how I see you."

Her eyes widened at his words, a lump suddenly forming in her throat.

"You're more trouble than a fox in a hen house sometimes," He continued, and she couldn't help but chuckle. Didn't she know it.

"But I can see that inside your intentions are good." He smiled, his eyes showing the honesty in his words. "You have a big heart. That's what really counts."

Her eyes had glazed over with tears, and one rolled down her cheek. She stifled a sob, her heart so desperately wanting to believe he truly meant what he'd said.

"Really?" She whispered.

Bill smiled warmly, and nodded, giving her hands a gentle squeeze. "Just give everyone some time. I'm sure they'll come around eventually."

She couldn't help the laugh that escaped her. "Ooo…I don't know about that…" Things seemed pretty frosty right now, and she believed that she had a long road to go before everyone would forgive her. But the fact that Bill believed in her gave her more hope than she'd felt in a long time.

She smiled back at him, hoping he saw just how much his words meant to her. "But I appreciate you saying that."

He simply nodded, and she felt he did. Scooping up the eggs onto two plates, he quickly grabbed a few pieces of toast and plated them as well.

"I'll see to it Florence doesn't complain." He replied giving her a wink, before carrying the plates out to the waiting customers.

She smiled, before wiping her face, and turning to the sink to clean up her burnt mess. Suddenly two figures caught her eye, and she peeked out the window. Warmth spread through her chest, a smile spreading across her face as she found Lucas and Elizabeth walking hand in hand.

Lucas had been walking on air ever since him and Elizabeth had confessed their love that night in the street. She'd been cleaning up in the saloon when she'd caught their dramatic embrace out the window. Her heart had swollen with joy at her brother's happiness. And yet there was a piece of it that had broken.

Scottie had never looked at her like Lucas looked at Elizabeth. Had never simply strolled down the street with her, holding her hand in his own. She supposed it was selfish to think like that, but something about seeing true love opened the hole in her own heart. The hole she desperately tried to forget was there.

"They make quite a pair, don't they?" Bill's quiet words brought her out of her wonderings again. She didn't take her eyes off the happy couple, and simply nodded. "Mmmm."

Her lips turned up, as she watched Lucas gaze at Elizabeth. Even from where she stood Jeanie could see the light in his eyes. The pure love and joy he'd found in Elizabeth. Again, the ache in her own heart surfaced.

"I've never seen my brother so happy." She finally managed quietly. A laugh escaped her as she watched Sawyer and Annie run circles around Lucas, tangling their leashes around his legs. Elizabeth seemed to laugh, a beautiful smile spreading across her face as she stopped and reached for Annie.

"Elizabeth really seems like an amazing woman."

Bill nodded, a smile touching his face. "She is."

Jeanie sighed, wrapping her arms around herself. "To love someone again after all she's been through must have taken an incredible amount of courage." She shook her head softly, and she couldn't help wondering how Elizabeth had done it.

To lose a husband who'd chosen wealth and crime over her had crushed her more than she'd thought possible. But to lose an honorable husband, one who had loved Elizabeth as deeply as she'd heard he had…She couldn't even imagine how Elizabeth could have borne it.

Bill seemed to think for a moment before he finally spoke. "I don't doubt that." She could feel him staring at her out of the corner of her eye. "Then again I think it's hard for anyone to move on after losing someone important to them." His next words came softly, filled with meaning. "Someone they loved."

Again, the tears sprang to her eyes. Oh, how she'd loved Scottie. She bit her lip, trying to calm her emotions. "Mmmhmm." She sounded, not trusting herself to speak.

Scottie had been a lot of things. He hadn't always treated her well. Hadn't always shown her respect. He'd lied, stolen, killed, and then blamed her for the whole mess he'd gotten himself in.

But he'd been her husband. And she'd loved him, with every ounce of her being. And inside, she believed that to an extent, he'd loved her too. Just not enough.

Again, she felt the string around her neck. Could she move on too?

"But it can be done." Bill replied gently, as if he could read her thoughts. "You just have to be willing to try."

Glancing toward him, she found an encouraging smile on his face. Suddenly he seemed like the father she'd never had. Or rather, the father she wished she could have had. She hadn't realized how much she missed having family around until she came to Hope Valley.

On an impulse, she wrapped her arms around Bill, giving him a quick hug. "Thanks Bill."

She pulled back and Bill nodded, understanding in his gaze. Suddenly his brow rose. "Does this mean you'll finally give me that secret muffin recipe?"

She giggled giving his chest a light pat. "Not a chance."

The bell then sounded, telling her a new customer had arrived. She glanced down the hall, and her heart stopped cold. Nathan Grant stood at the door, removing his Stetson from his head.

No, no, no…She panicked. Suddenly his eyes rose to meet hers, and she darted for the kitchen door.

"I need some air."